On May 27, 2016, I was released from jail after a month of incarceration. I had only been in the car about two minutes when my case worker informed me that the Homeless Garden Project (HGP) was going to give jobs to the first 20 people that showed up to their main office; my first inclination was “too much, too …
My name is Laurie Soderman and I became a trainee earlier this year in May. When I was asked to speak tonight, describing my experience, a quote from a song by the band Genesis came to mind. They sang: The sands of time were eroded by the river of constant change. This is a glimpse of my story of Transformation, …
Hello everyone, I’d like to thank everybody for coming out to visit our farm. “Our farm.” It’s funny when I say “our farm.” I think of all the numerous people that have come here whether it to be a volunteer, donate, find some peace and quiet, or like many of us in the trainee program, to help put our lives …
I write this with deepest appreciation to those at the Homeless Garden Project who touched my life with their authenticity and presence: Darrie, Angie, Jes, Naomi, Lindsay, Mike, Chris, Angela, Raven, and the many trainees, community members, and others I worked alongside in the office, workshop, retail store, and farm. I relocated to Santa Cruz in the summer of 2014 …
Andrew presented this talk to 75 guests at our SUSTAIN Farm Dinner. My name is Andrew. I came to Santa Cruz when I was 13, and 14 was my first trip to Juvenile Hall. By 15, I was in rehab and by 16, I was in a group home until I was 18. I had a family that loved me and …
Probably the most inspiring and meaningful achievements at Homeless Garden Project are from our trainees. Here is a listing from our trainees about what they personally accomplished by participating in HGP’s transitional employment program in 2012. I’m now living indoors. I’m renting a room in a house, as of January 2013. I started a second job at a nonprofit in …
I interviewed Danny at HGP’s Natural Bridges Farm last summer. Danny welcomed me to the Farm and explained his work crew and their role on the Farm. His crew prepares and cares for vegetable beds and the animals. As we painted row markers and sifted compost together we talked. After work hours we continued our conversation under a giant pine tree. …
Here is the story that Joan shared with Michael Pollan after he toured the farm. She was very brave to write it and speak it, and that courage was palpable when she shared. Later, Raphael, an accomplished SJSU film student, made a video chronicling the transition of trainees from farm to workshop with Joan’s story narrating. Watch the Video: Nourishing Soil “The …
I have been a trainee at the Homeless Garden Project’s Natural Bridges Farm for nearlya year, and what a wondrous year it has been. The wisdom, knowledge, compassion and support, the camaraderie and bonding, as well as understanding and patience that have been showered upon me is without measure, appreciated, and surprisingly now welcomed. It was not always so. For …
In celebration of Susie’s life. Please join us at Natural Bridges Farm on Friday, June 24 at 2 PM to pay tribute to Susie MacMillen. There will be opportunities to share remembrances, a small reception will follow. Please feel free to bring food to share, writing, photos. If you need more information, please contact Forrest Cook at forrestc@homelessgardenproject.org Susie began …
